Marrying My Brother's Best Friend by R. S. Elliot

Marrying My Brother's Best Friend:

A Single Dad, Accidental Baby Romance
(The Billionaire's Secret, Book 4) 

Author: R. S. Elliot

Publication Date: February 19, 2021

 

 

Available Now: Kindle

 

 

If you've been following along my reading journey, you know I am very much an advocate for reading a book series in the intended order. 

 

Most of the books I read tend to be part of a larger universe, where characters and story lines intermingle in a way that makes sense for the overall arc of the series and allows the author to get their readers to buy in. 

Full disclosure: I read the first three books in the Billionaire's Secret series some time ago, strictly for pleasure, which is why I'm only posting a review about book four of the series, Marrying My Best Friend's Brother. However, as always, I suggest checking out the first book in the series and make your way through to really get the full emotional impact that R.S. Elliot provides readers of the series. You can check the series out here!

 

Fake It For Me: A Grumpy Boss, Secret Baby Romance

 

Surprise Marriage: An Enemies to Lovers, Accidental Marriage Romance

His Secret Baby: A Second Chance, Accidental Pregnancy Romance

Now for my review... 

I am the type of reader who truly invests in a story, in the characters, and in the universe an author creates. In the current climate of authors self-publishing, a reader never truly knows what type of story they are walking into. The covers of romance novels are absolutely meant to draw the eye, most of them featuring scantily clad god-or-goddess-like models in various states of undress or physical entanglement.

Am I also the type to be swayed by a hot as sin cover? 

Yes, I sure the fuck am!

 

That being said, R. S. Elliot has been hit and miss for me, depending on the series. I loved all three of the previous books in the Billionaire's Secret series, but was not so sure about all of the books in the Billionaire's Obsession series - I've currently just finished the boxed set and I loved Beauty and the Boss as well as Teacher and the Boss. 

 

I really had no idea what to expect from Marrying My Brother's Best Friend when I received an advanced copy, but I loved the premise.

Synopsis:

Aaron
My best friend’s little sister was always off-limits.

That’s especially true now that she’s my lawyer.
I need her to help me keep custody of Ava.
My daughter is the most important thing in my life.
Between being a single father and running a Fortune 100 company, there isn’t room for anything else.
Certainly not with Sarah.
Her brother would kill me if I ever touched her.
Not to mention, she would violate her legal ethics getting involved with a client.
But old feelings aren’t so easy to suppress.
And ending up in bed with Sarah is only the start of the complications to my life and my heart.

Sarah

Aaron Moore is a grade-A jerk.
At least, that’s how I remember my older brother’s best friend from high school.
It didn’t stop me from crushing on him back then, though.
Only now, he’s a client.
He also isn’t the person I thought he was at all.
A determined businessman. A dedicated father. A passionate lover.
Once we cross that line, there’s no going back, despite what it could cost me.
But forces work to keep us apart and take what’s most important to him.
Only I have a secret…one that will change everything and that I won’t be able to keep hidden for long.

Of the four books in this series, this is the one that had my heart absolutely aching. Seeing both main characters struggling so hard against their feelings for one another in order to ensure the well-being of a child had me in tears more than a few times. The investment in Aaron and Sarah was so, so real for me. I found myself having to put the book down for a bit with every obstacle and twist in the story line, but I am happy to say that all of my anxiety over the mountains this pair had to climb was rewarded in the end. 

R. S. Elliot truly does emotional stories well. This is not an author that simply cranks out a book series to make money. There is no rushing over the small details and getting straight to the steamy love scenes. You are introduced to the characters and provided with in-depth backgrounds, relatable side characters that help move the story along, and a well-thought out plot with believable roadblocks and satisfying payoffs by the time you reach the end of the book. 

I would definitely recommend adding R. S. Elliot to your list of authors to follow, and make sure you start at the beginning of each series to get the most out of your reading!

A copy of Marrying My Brother's Best Friend was provided by BookSprout in exchange for an honest review. All opinions regarding the story are my own.

Are you brave enough to explore...A Murder Country?

A Murder Country

Author: Brandon Daily

Published by: Knox Robinson Publishing

Publication date: September 9, 2014 

Available in eBook format.

In this novel set in the late 19^th century, the reader is taken on multiple journeys through the eyes of three very different men who each have their own agendas. From the zealous and violent Rider to the contemplative William to the innocent Josiah, the future for the three at the center of this tale all rest on one thing: the consequences of their choices, both past and present. 

"What is life but a series of meetins and greetins and farewells and goodbyes strung together by some higher callin unknown from ourselves? It all leads us to some eventual knowin of one another, I imagine. And only then can we really hope to understand ourselves. That’s what I think, at least. I’ve come to see that life is truly one choice after the other. And still I have been appointed the job of decidin what choices are right." 

Daily weaves an interesting and complex read with storylines that cross one another but never really let you see what is around the next corner. At times grim and gruesome, this story is not your typical feel-good read but rather a study in humanity in its many facets through the eyes of Daily’s characters and the world in which they live.

One man seeks to exact God’s justice, one seeks distance from his dark past while moving toward a peaceful future, and another seeks revenge against the one who took his family from him. Along the way, the men find that what they seek may not bring them the satisfaction, peace, or justice they desired.

I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I posted anything on my book review blog!  If you know me at all, you know that writing is a passion, as is reading almost any book I can get my hands on.  The last year has been a rough one for me personally as I juggled a full time job, a full college course load, and the death of my grandmother.  I know anyone who has had to experience any of these things will understand why my little blog has been left alone so long. 

My plate will never be empty, as I still must work for a living and am only a little over halfway through my Bachelor's degree program, but I try to make as much time as I can for things I am passionate about.  I still run my fan forum and connected social media sites for my favorite actor, Nathan Fillion, and I also continue to run the social media sites for my other fan forum for Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  And while it seems my life could do with a little less stress and responsibility, I have taken on a few other projects because they are such good opportunities for my ultimate goal that it would just be idiotic not to snatch them up as they float past me.

What are these opportunities?  Glad you asked!  I am still reviewing books of all genres for a wonderful site called Novels Alive, I occasionally do a review for a company called Knox Robinson Publishing, and I recently applied for an unpaid internship for a little site you may have heard of that revolves around the world of Harry Potter called Mugglenet.  I honestly didn't think I would get the intern position simply because of the sheer massiveness of the site and how popular it is for HP fans.  There are people who would probably literally kill to get a job with Mugglenet.  I just found out today that my application and writing examples were considered and found to be kick-ass enough that they offered me a position! 

I have to thank everyone who has supported me, in big ways and small - it means the world to me to have you all happy for me and encouraging me, even when you know I probably don't have time to add another thing to my already full plate.  This internship could mean big things for me if I play my cards right and do a good job, so I am adding it to my list of things to do and will do so with pleasure.

Now, enough explaining where the hell I've been and why the blog has been treated like a red-headed step-child.  On to the reviews!

Wealthy By Design

Author: Kimberly Foss

Published by: Greenleaf Book Group Press

Publication Date: June 18, 2013

 Available on Amazon in Hardcover

Wealthy By Design by Kimberly Foss is a thought-provoking read.  With her knowledge of the industry, she knows all the right questions to ask of her clients to help them make the most of their investments and shares them in this self-help guide to building wealth.

“Drawing upon her twenty-six years of experience as president and founder of Empyrion Wealth Management, where she advises clients of all financial backgrounds and life situations, and her own rise from humble beginnings, Kimberly offers powerful and enlightening stories. Through them, you will learn how to leverage personality, situation, and belief and apply proven wealth-building strategies to fulfill your needs and dreams.”

Foss uses personal experiences with her clients to demonstrate different goals and levels of commitment that any reader can relate to. This book, however, does not appear to be for someone who is just starting out in the investment world. There are many terms used by Foss during her anecdotes and examples, but no real explanation of those terms for those who are unfamiliar with them.  However unfamiliar these industry insider terms are, any reader can take away the feeling of hope in preparing for their future and having the power to control their money so that all dreams and goals can be achieved.  Foss empowers her readers, giving sound, practical advice to take into consideration before moving forward with any investment decisions.

The Libra Affair

Author: Daco

Published by: Crimson Romance

Publication Date: April 8, 2013

 Available on Amazon Kindle

With a plot akin to hit silver screen action thrillers, Daco jumps into the deep end of an international spy love story with her romantic suspense, The Libra Affair.

Daco wastes no time getting right to the point, leaving all character build-up and background to be expertly disbursed among the action and instead choosing to thrust the reader directly into the complicated life of CIA operative and double agent Jordan Jakes.

Jordan must give up the man she falls in love with in order to finish the job she started with the CIA to pull off a global political power play.  With her life, and Ben’s, on the line, Jordan has to switch gears when Ben refuses to accept the end of their relationship and follows her to the Middle East where he unwittingly entangles himself in Jordan’s secret and dangerous life.

“Surviving takes more than being one step ahead of their enemies.  Jordan and Ben must peel back the layers of their emotional armor to overcome a series of obstacles before they can accomplish Jordan’s mission. If they have any hope of making it out of the Middle East alive and forming a lasting relationship, they must surrender to love.”

 

The entire read was entertaining and fast-paced.  There were no slow builds or moments where my attention span wandered.  While full of what I assume is common “spy-speak”, the terms and phrases were explained immediately and in a way that did not distract me from the story but instead drew me further into Jordan’s world and all the danger it holds.  This is actually my first suspense novel, and I find, paired with romance, it’s a genre I could be fan of, as long as Daco is writing them!